Elon Musk shared an AI-generated image of Vice President Kamala Harris dressed in a red Soviet-style uniform with a hammer and sickle logo, prompting concerns about political disinformation and manipulation.

Posted in response to a graphic shared by Kamala Harris' US presidential campaign on X that read, "Donald Trump vows to be a dictator on day one," Musk's post, which lacked a label indicating it was AI-generated, sparked a wave of responses from X users. 

Many users seemed to believe the image was real, while others criticised it as disinformation. The post follows a series of AI-generated media shared by former President Trump on X and his Truth Social platform, including images of Harris as a communist dictator and purported fans of both Taylor Swift and Trump.

The use of AI-generated images in a political context has raised concerns about voter manipulation and the spread of disinformation. While some platforms have implemented policies to restrict the creation and distribution of synthetic media for political purposes, enforcement has been inconsistent.

As the 2024 US presidential election approaches, experts warn that AI technology could enable disinformation purveyors to operate at a larger scale.